Premiership

This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s Premiership news, interviews, reports, opinion and other content.

Quins flair crushed by the boot of Simmonds

20 October 2019 0 comments

By MIKE SINCLAIR NOT many teams outscore Exeter for tries at Sandy Park – but Harlequins still took home only a losing bonus point from […]

Ibitoye makes the magic we like says Gustard

20 October 2019 0 comments

TWO-TRY winger Gabriel Ibitoye was described as “a special talent” by Harlequins director of rugby Paul Gustard. “He’s been working hard on his defensive positioning, […]

We showed fight roars triumphant Ackermann

20 October 2019 1 comment

By ROSS HEPPENSTALL JOHAN Ackermann and his players celebrated like wild men after a dramatic finale saw Gloucester open their Premiership campaign in thrilling fashion. […]

No targets for us say Gloucester, just be best

20 October 2019 0 comments

Boss: Johan Ackermann VICTORIOUS Gloucester boss Johan Ackermann refused to set any targets for the season after his men saw off Sale with a hard-earned […]

Diamond: We won’t let playoff place slip by again

20 October 2019 0 comments

NEWS EXTRA By GARY FITZGERALD STEVE Diamond is convinced Sale have the player power to mount a serious push for the top four. Four successive […]

Weir lands the points in a tragedy of errors

20 October 2019 1 comment

By ROGER PANTING THIS was a dreadful advert for Premiership rugby but Worcester won’t care a jot as they made it five consecutive wins over […]

We were nervous admits Solomons

20 October 2019 1 comment

WORCESTER’S director of rugby Alan Solomons was relieved to claim a tense game. He said: “If you start the Premiership with home advantage, it’s important […]

Fully-fit hooker Taylor aims to show what Wasps and England have been missing

20 October 2019 2 comments

By NEALE HARVEY FORMER All Blacks hitman Malakai Fekitoa is handed his Premiership debut as Wasps take on newly-promoted London Irish at the Ricoh Arena. […]

Slimline Hughes has the Bears roaring in

20 October 2019 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Causing havoc: Nathan Hughes celebrates scoring Bristol’s second try with Mat Protheroe PICTURES: Getty Images In front: Zach Mercer puts Bath ahead […]

Hooper: I expected more from my team

20 October 2019 1 comment

BATHdirector of rugby Stuart Hooper slammed his side’s second-half performance. He said: “We were ragged and gave away soft tries after being sloppy at the […]

Squad lists all for 12 Premiership teams 2019-20

18 October 2019 0 comments

Take a look at the forwards, backs, coaches and captains which will make for another exciting season of Premiership rugby

Premiership kick off! Sale Sharks must show more bite

18 October 2019 0 comments

It’s time for Steve Diamond to aim for a top four finish, writes Brendan Gallagher

Tommy Reffell will be a star for club and country says Leicester’s Thompson

17 October 2019 0 comments

The future of Wales’ back row? Guy Thompson think so after being impressed with the young flanker’s displays at Leicester

Sharks must show more bite in attack

13 October 2019 0 comments

Brendan Gallagher assesses the runners and riders in the new Premiership title race More firepower: Mark Wilson is on a one-season loan at Sale I […]

Saints march to victory led by general Grayson

13 October 2019 1 comment

By ROB WILDMAN NORTHAMPTON claimed a third successive East Midlands derby in an attack-minded encounter they edged in the last 20 minutes. Saints pulled clear […]

Forward power gets Chiefs home semi-final

13 October 2019 0 comments

By MIKE SINCLAIR EXETER had effectively ensured their home clash with Harlequins in February’s semi-finals inside 31 minutes when prop Harry Williams drove over for […]

Eddie gets a reminder from super Spencer

13 October 2019 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD BEN Spencer shrugged off his World Cup snub to showcase his prodigious all-round skills and help secure Sarries a Premiership Cup semi-final […]

Freddie’s try turns it into a horror for Glos

13 October 2019 1 comment

By ROGER PANTING GLOUCESTER crashed to an embarrassing defeat to see them leave the competition without a win. It was the hosts’ fourth consecutive loss […]

Ashton double proves Sharks are big threat on the wings

13 October 2019 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY CHRIS Ashton lit up a compelling contest with a sniper’s try-double as Sale secured a fourth successive Premiership Cup win to set […]

Worcester stung by Watson hat-trick

13 October 2019 0 comments

By GEOFF BERKELEY MARCUS Watson scored a second-half hat-trick as Wasps eventually swept aside Worcester Warriors at the Ricoh Arena. After edging a turgid opening […]

Nic White to leave Exeter Chiefs and make Brumbies return

9 October 2019 0 comments

White is currently on duty with Australia at the Rugby World Cup

Pack power swings it Chiefs way at the death

6 October 2019 1 comment

By ROGER PANTING TOM Howe’s hat-trick was not enough to stop Exeter Chiefs going top of Pool 3 and assume pole position for a semi-final […]

Battling Tigers manage to ride out Polota-Nau red card storm

6 October 2019 1 comment

By GARY FITZGERALD TIGERS defied a red card for veteran Australia hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau to produce a battling performance to grab the spoils at the […]

Brown adds his stardust to an 11-try super show

6 October 2019 1 comment

By NEALE HARVEY Setting the bar: Mike Brown scores the opening try for Quins PICTURES: Getty Images Scorer: Twelvetrees MIKE Brown produced an inspirational display […]

Ribbans out to press his England claims

6 October 2019 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY WITH a new three-year contractpouched, lock forward David Ribbans starts for Saints in a game his side must win to keep their […]

Eden feeling Tiff-top again as he bids to make mark

6 October 2019 1 comment

By NEALE HARVEY Impact: Tiff Eden Upbeat: Barney Maddison BRISTOL fly-half Tiff Eden is determined to make an impact after a year of injury hell. […]

Denny’s double has Diamond drooling

6 October 2019 1 comment

By LUKE JARMYN SALE wing Denny Solomona scored two second half tries as Sharks fought back from a tenpoint half-time deficit to top Pool 1 […]

Northampton Saints lock David Ribbans extends stay

1 October 2019 0 comments

Ribbans joined the Saints in 2017 from the Western Province

Sale celebrate first ever win at Sarries

29 September 2019 1 comment

Saracens…17pts Tries: Whiteley 10, Lewington 59 Conversions: Whiteley 11, 60 Penalties: Whiteley 24 Sale …36pts Tries: D du Preez 18, 78, Cooper-Woolley 27, Roebuck 29, […]

Luatua leads the fight as Bristol survive double yellow

29 September 2019 0 comments

Bristol…20pts Tries: Thacker 5, Powell 44 Conversions: Sheedy 5, 44 Penalties: Sheedy 13, 21 Gloucester…17pts Tries: Simpson 33, Banahan 60, Grobler 77 Conversions: Evans 77 […]

Tigers bite back to give Chiefs a slapping

29 September 2019 1 comment

Leicester …27pts Tries: Thompson 2, Olowofela 15, Holmes 25, Eastmond 73 Conversions: Reid 25, Hardwick 73 Penalties: Reid 47 Exeter …7pts Tries: Vermeulen 9 Conversions: […]

Stinger for Saints after Naiyaravoro sees red

29 September 2019 0 comments

■ By ROB WILDMAN Northampton…32pts Tries: Fish 13, Naiyaravoro 17, Eadie 45, Penalty 66, Dingwall 72 Conversions: Grayson 45 Penalties: Grayson 23 Wasps …36pts Tries: […]

Warriors are caught cold as barren run at Rec continues

29 September 2019 0 comments

■ By ROGER PANTING Bath…36pts Tries: Chudley 8, Davis 17, Stooke 29, Penalty 68, Brew 77 Conversions: Priestland 8, 17, 29 Penalties: Priestland 5 Worcester […]

Herron hits to complete late winner rescue job

29 September 2019 1 comment

LIrish…18pts Tries: Hepetema 15, Fainga’a 28 Conversions: Jackson 16 Penalties: Jackson 35, 60 Harlequins…21pts Tries: Lang 1, Ibitoye 54, Dombrandt 67 Penalties: Heron 21, 78 […]

World Cup winner Woodman can’t wait to see Mako Vunipola back

27 September 2019 0 comments

Woodman also says England can take inspiration from their core of Saracens players

Wasps appoint first female matchday announcer for upcoming clash

26 September 2019 0 comments

Verity Brown will take up microphone duties in lieu of long-term announcer Pete Nuttall’s temporary absence

Te’o exit will make Worcester more cohesive says Ryan Mills

26 September 2019 0 comments

Mills was in great form for Worcester last season and says the Warriors backline can function even better with Te’o not being ‘in and out’

Line-out king Stephan Lewies set to give Harlequins tactical edge

25 September 2019 0 comments

The South African talks to TRP after his arrival at The Stoop this summer

Saracens can be history makers, says Alex Goode

25 September 2019 0 comments

Alex Goode signed a three-year extension at the Premiership and European champions

Exeter Chiefs won’t be the last club to establish women’s team

24 September 2019 0 comments

Premiership side Sale Sharks and Championship favourites Newcastle Falcons are also looking to form a team for the Premier 15s

Baxter’s new breed prove their qualities

22 September 2019 2 comments

By MIKE SINCLAIR THE next generation of Exeter forwards showed they have been wellschooled in the Chiefs’ brand of pack attrition. They forced Bath to […]

Sharks show their bite with six tries against the Cup holders

22 September 2019 1 comment

By TOM VICKERS A STRONG Sale side got their season off to a winning start with a comfortable win against holders Northampton. A penalty try […]

Ace Segun for Sarries

22 September 2019 2 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Two-try speedster: Rotimi Segun RAMPANT Rotimi Segun showed just why Sarries believe he is a wing wizard in the making as the […]

Potent Quins give Lam’s

22 September 2019 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING TWO first half tries from Aaron Morris were enough for Quins to win an errorridden match on Friday. The hosts were always […]

8-try Warriors hand Tigers youngsters tough lesson

22 September 2019 0 comments

By GEOFF BERKELEY WORCESTER fans enjoyed a great day in the sun as their side put a youthful Leicester team to the sword at Sixways. […]

Hat-trick for Steele welcomes Irish back

22 September 2019 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING SCRUM-HALF Scott Steele scored a hat-trick of tries to give the Premiership newcomers a deserved first win of the season. It took […]

Thomas leads way as Wizards gain momentum

22 September 2019 1 comment

By PAUL HOPKINS Aberavon……24 Swansea ……14 ABERAVON made it two from two with victory over their regional rivals. The Wizards took the lead after a […]

Downes double eases champions’ nerves

22 September 2019 0 comments

By IAN GOLDEN Merthyr ……….42 Ebbw Vale ……21 CHAMPIONS Merthyr bounced back from their defeat at RGC with an emphatic home win. Ebbw drew first […]

Llanelli crushed as Cardiff slip into overdrive

22 September 2019 0 comments

By STEFFAN THOMAS Llanelli …………10 Cardiff …………33 CARDIFF’s impressive start continued with a bonus-point 33-10 win at Parc y Scarlets. Barney Nightingale opened for them […]